Sports
Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship
At Grinnell College, students pursue passions that shape their academic careers and impact society. The S&B spoke to Olivia Wang `25 and Chikako Inoue `26, two recipients of the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship, which supports Grinnell College international students as they explore the United States independently while delving into themes that drive their academic and personal missions. Wang was awarded the fellowship in 2024 and completed her travel last year, while Inoue has yet to embark on their Fischlowitz adventure.
Surfing and (Sub)cultural Exchange
Wang’s journey explored a spectrum of surf spots, from iconic locations like Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Cocoa Beach to lesser-known destinations such as Sheboygan on Lake Michigan and the Gulf Coast near Tampa. Each site offered a distinct glimpse into the local surfing community. While some regions, like Florida and Wisconsin, presented challenging wave conditions, these hurdles only deepened her understanding.
“Even when the waves weren’t ideal, I found opportunities to learn and connect with the people around me,” Wang explained. This adaptive mindset allowed her to observe how geography and community values shape local surf cultures and the ethos of the sport overall.
“I wasn’t just chasing waves,” she said. “I was looking at how people connect to water, to land, and to each other.”
Beyond the act of surfing itself, Wang’s experience was shaped by her earlier volunteer work with a surf club in Guangdong, China. “The surf club I volunteered with in Guangdong had such a strong sense of purpose — not just surfing for fun, but educating people about the ocean,” she said. “That was where I first saw surfing as something communal and even political.”
These early impressions informed how she approached surf culture in the U.S., where she encountered both polished, image-driven scenes and more relaxed, grassroots communities. “California surf culture felt very polished — like everyone had the right gear, the right look. But places like Cocoa Beach felt more laid-back, more welcoming in a way.”
For Wang, surfing became a way to explore themes of identity, community, and freedom. “Surfing made me think a lot about freedom — how different places and people define it.”
Her travels showed her how the same passion — surfing — can be expressed through very different lived experiences, yet still function as a shared cultural language. In each place, she found a narrative of belonging: one shaped not only by waves, but by people, place, and purpose.
Intergenerational Healing Through Transnational Histories
While Olivia Wang’s travels are complete, Chikako Inoue `26 is just preparing for their own fellowship journey. Recently announced as the 2025 recipient of the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship, Inoue, a Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies major from Saitama, Japan, will embark on their fellowship trip in Aug. 2025.
Inoue’s project centers on the history of “comfort women” — a term for the women and girls subjected to sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. This topic is both a personal and academic focus for Inoue, and they plan to examine how the legacy of this trauma is commemorated within the Asian-American community, especially through statues of peace placed in U.S. cities.
These statues, found in areas with significant Asian-American populations, serve as memorials to the victims of wartime sexual violence. Inoue aims to explore how these memorials act as a form of healing, fostering solidarity and activism within affected communities.
Inoue was encouraged to apply for the fellowship by Ekta Shaikh `24, a fellow GWSS major and previous recipient of the award, who worked on similar gender-based issues.
“I was inspired by their work and saw the fellowship as a chance to deepen my own understanding of American culture, contribute to my community, and expand my network of scholars and activists,” Inoue noted.
As a Japanese student studying in the U.S., Inoue is uniquely positioned to engage with this issue from multiple perspectives — as a scholar, an activist and someone with personal connections to Japan’s wartime actions.
“This project is about acknowledging a painful history and working towards healing,” Inoue explained. “The memorials are not just about remembering the past but about creating spaces for dialogue and solidarity.”
Inoue also plans to visit key sites, including Glendale, California, where one of the memorials stands, and other cities where similar statues are located. They aim to connect with residents involved in the commemoration and reparation efforts to better understand how public acts of remembrance can serve as tools for healing and social justice.
For future applicants, Inoue emphasized the importance of passion and purpose in the proposal. “This fellowship is a powerful tool for anyone looking to deepen their academic and activist work while engaging with diverse communities. My project is personal, and I believe that authenticity shines through in the application process.”
Inoue’s fellowship will also provide opportunities to connect with scholars and activists who are also addressing issues like colonialism, decolonization and the legacy of wartime sexual violence. “I want to bring the experiences of comfort women into broader conversations about colonialism, trauma and healing,” Inoue said.
The Fischlowitz Fellowship Selection Process
Emily Perry, assistant director of international student programs at Grinnell’s Office of International Student Affairs (OISA), oversees the logistics of the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship. She described the process in a recent interview, noting that a selection committee reviews proposals and selects three finalists for interviews before choosing the final recipient.
The committee has five members — a representative each from the Office Development and Alumni Relations, global fellowships and awards and the Institute for Global Engagement, a rotating faculty member and the most recent recipient of the fellowship (Wang participated in the 2025 search committee.) Perry’s role is to manage the logistics while remaining neutral in the final decision-making process.
The selection committee evaluates applicants based on a rubric that considers the clarity of their theme, the feasibility of their travel plans and their overall maturity and adaptability. Perry emphasized the importance of seeing clear goals, realistic planning and the ability to engage with new experiences. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate openness to learning and flexibility in their travel plans, as the fellowship places a strong emphasis on independent exploration and personal growth.
The number of applications for the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship has remained consistent despite concerns during the pandemic. “We’ve seen a steady number of applications each year, with students engaging deeply with the themes they propose,” Perry said.
While Inoue’s fellowship travel has not yet begun, they took an early step in preparation after being invited to attend the 25th anniversary of the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on March 13, 2025, at Cardozo School of Law in New York City. The event honored the legacy of the comfort women and the tribunal, marking its 25th anniversary and reflecting on its ongoing impact.
A transfer from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Roman will join the Demon Deacons’ roster for the 2026-27 school year with one final season of eligibility remaining. She spent each of the last three seasons as a member of the Trojans’ volleyball program.
Roman is the second individual to ink with the Deacs this winter, as Catherine Burke also recently signed on Dec. 17.
Andrea Roman | 5-4 | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Little Rock
One of the country’s top defensive players this past fall as a junior, Roman ranked second in the NCAA in total digs, finishing the 2025 season with 632. That total was good for the most by a Trojan in a single season throughout program history at Little Rock. In addition, her 5.31 digs-per-set average ranked fourth nationally. Roman’s stellar play led to her being named the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Defensive Player of the Year while also earning First Team All-OVC honors. Her clips in total digs and digs-per-set average both led the league. She had four performances of 30-plus digs and 13 with 20 or more while recording three of the top 10 single-match dig marks in program history during the season.
As a sophomore in 2024, Roman played in all 32 matches while making appearances in 125 sets. She led the team with a then-program record 624 digs and averaging 4.99 per set. Roman ranked first in the conference in total digs and fifth among all NCAA players. Her total ultimately helped Little Rock reach a new best single-season mark in digs as a team (2,227) through program history. She also played a notable role in the team’s setting tempo, finishing with 161 total assists. By the conclusion of the season, Roman was named Second Team All-OVC.
During her freshman season, Roman led the Trojans in digs (315) while seeing action in 22 matches and 79 sets played. She was also third on the roster in service aces (80). In all but one of the final 16 matches of the season, Roman led Little Rock in digs.
Andrea Roman Career Accolades & Accomplishments
- 2025 OVC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2025 First Team All-OVC
- 2024 Second Team All-OVC
- Ranks No. 1 all-time in single-season digs (632) at Little Rock
- Ranks No. 2 all-time in career digs (1,571) at Little Rock
- Five-time OVC Defensive Player of the Week honoree
Personal
Andrea is the daughter of Sylvia Gonzalez and Julio Roman – she also has two older siblings. In the classroom, Andrea plans to study Health & Exercise Science during her time on campus.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
“I’m so happy to have Andrea joining us to bring depth and experience to our libero group. With Emma Farrell graduating, Andrea provides an experienced defender who averaged over five digs per set this past season and is someone who has seen a lot of tough serving in the OVC. Getting her to Wake Forest in January will allow us to acclimate her for the speed of the ACC. I’ve known her former coach, Van Compton, for many years, so not only is she a well-trained skilled player, she is also someone of great character. She will be a wonderful addition to the Wake Forest family.”
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Dec. 30, 2025, 3:00 a.m. CT
Who do you think deserves to be the Lakeshore Elite volleyball player of the year? You tell us.
Tom Dombeck made his choice, but you can choose from the six players to make up the first team.
You can vote for the Lakeshore Elite volleyball player of the year until noon on Jan. 6.
You don’t have to be a subscriber to vote.
Here is the ballot. If the poll does not display, refresh your browser.
Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 ortdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at@Tom_Dombeck.
High school volleyball teams in the Coastal Region won three state championships this season and 13 teams earned spots in the AHSAA state championship tournament.
McGill-Toolen dominated Class 7A, winning its fourth straight title and 25th AHSAA state championship while Spanish Fort won its second straight Class 6A title and fifth overall, all coming since 2015. Mobile Christian won its second straight Class 3A championship.
Class 3A St. Luke’s won to the title match before falling to Mobile Christian while Class 5A UMS-Wright and Class 4A Orange Beach each earned spots in the final four.
Other teams winning to the Elite Eight were Class 7A Bayside and St. Paul’s, Class 6A Saraland, Class 5A Faith Academy, Class 4A St. Michael and Class 1A Millry and Leroy.
The Press-Register All-Region team is compiled by the AL.com high school sports staff with input from coaches.
AL.com named Player of the Year, Attacker MVP, Defensive MVP, Setter MVP and Coach of the Year. Award winners are listed separately, but considered first-team selections.
PRESS-REGISTER ALL-REGION VOLLEYBALL TEAM
(Players listed alphabetically)
1/104
AHSAA Volleyball 6A State Championship
Zoẽ Beech, Spanish Fort
5-11, Sr., Middle
355 kills, 104 blocks, 404 digs, 59 aces
College: Undecided
Bennett Boulo, St. Paul’s
5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side
1,091 assists, 354 kills, 51 blocks, 257 digs, 67 aces
College: Undecided
Grier Broughton, Bayside Academy
5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter
321 kills, 33 blocks, 171 digs, 20 aces
College: Undecided
Anna Grace Chason, Daphne
5-11, Sr., Right Side/Setter
1,024 assists, 233 kills, 37 blocks, 238 digs, 58 aces
College: Mississippi College
Caroline Downey, Spanish Fort
5-10, Sr., Outside Hitter
446 kills, 49 blocks, 336 digs, 55 aces
College: Mississippi College
Chloe Duggan, Faith Academy
5-6, Jr., Setter
701 assists, 43 kills, 25 blocks, 204 digs, 47 aces
College: Undecided
Haley Eldridge, Mobile Christian
5-6, Sr., Setter
1,006 assists, 43 kills, 34 blocks, 277 digs, 67 aces
College: Undecided
Baker Garside, St. Luke’s
5-6, Sr., Setter
1,018 assists, 99 kills, 9 blocks, 245 digs, 36 aces
College: Undecided
Victoria Holley, Spanish Fort
5-6, Sr., Libero
695 digs, 98 assists, 66 aces
College: Undecided
Cami Huff, McGill-Toolen
6-2, Sr., Middle
383 kills, 137 blocks, 23 digs
College: West Virginia
Hadley Kelly, Mobile Christian
6-1, Jr., Middle
463 kills, 139 blocks, 12 digs, 35 aces
College: Liberty
Catherine McClain, McGill-Toolen
5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter
538 kills, 41 blocks, 331 digs, 49 aces
College: Loyola
Payton McClarren, McGill-Toolen
5-2, Sr., Libero
534 digs, 75 assists, 69 aces
College: William Carey
Macey Moore, Gulf Shores
5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side
336 kills, 430 assists, 77 blocks, 351 digs, 71 aces
College: North Florida beach volleyball
Kenly Nelson, Fairhope
5-11, Jr., Outside Hitter
333 kills, 49 blocks, 57 digs, 2 aces
College: Undecided
Charli Pearce, Saraland
6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter/Setter
368 kills, 504 assists, 36 blocks, 329 digs, 64 aces
College: South Alabama
Hayley Robinson, Bayside Academy
6-3, Sr., Right Side
370 kills, 70 blocks, 105 digs, 48 aces
College: Samford
Libby Rogers, Fairhope
5-8, Sr., Setter
710 assists, 166 kills, 33 blocks, 273 digs, 20 aces
College: Montevallo
Bella Rumley, Orange Beach
5-8, So., Outside Hitter
273 kills, 27 blocks, 42 digs, 46 aces
College: Undecided
Amelia Smith, St. Luke’s
6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter
543 kills, 50 blocks, 354 digs, 84 aces
College: UAH
Ella Clarie Sullivan, UMS-Wright
5-7, Sr, Libero
418 digs, 120 assists, 82 aces
College: Undecided
MK Whitehurst, Bayside Academy
5-3, Sr., Libero
504 digs, 59 assists, 44 aces
College: Undecided
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alice Wood, McGill-Toolen
5-9, Jr., Setter
Region second-best 1,362 assists, region-best 27.8 assists per match average, 57 kills, 76 blocks, 302 digs, 61 aces
College: Kansas State
ATTACKER MVP
Ella Lomax, Daphne
5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter
Region-best 753 kills, region-best 13.45 kills per match average, 35 blocks, 313 digs, 81 aces
College: UNA
DEFENSIVE MVP
Melissa Patel, Mobile Christian
5-5, Sr., Libero
684 digs, 57 assists, 40 aces
College: Southwest Baptist
SETTER MVP
Cailyn Boykin, Spanish Fort
5-8, Jr., Setter
Region-best 1,638 assists, 68 kills, 32 blocks, 351 digs, 66 aces
College: Undecided
COACHES OF THE YEAR
Kate Wood, McGill-Toolen
Gretchen Boykin, Spanish Fort
Mallory Boyington, Mobile Christian
HONORABLE MENTION
Outside Hitter/Right Side: Brooklyn McIlwain, Faith Academy, Sr.; Alexis Scott, Mobile Christian, Sr.; Marissa Smith, St. Paul’s, Fr.; Skylar Courtney, UMS-Wright, Sr.; LillyAnne Doggette, Millry, Sr.; Myah Skanes, Saraland, Jr.; Jaedyn Lang, McGill-Toolen, Sr.; Breanna Stokley, Millry, Sr.; Chandler Thomas, UMS-Wright, Sr.
Middle: Chelsey McReary, T.R. Miller, Jr.; Reece Wilmott, Bayside Academy, Jr.; Mikadyn Cauley, Faith Academy, Jr.; Natalie Maxwell, Spanish Fort, So.; Gabi Berlage, Fairhope, Sr.; Maddie McKinley, Washington County, Sr.; Raina Gunter, Washington County, Sr.; Lily Willingham, Saraland, Sr.
Setter: Sophie Hester, Bayside Academy, Jr.; Grace Thigpen, Daphne, Sr.; Ivey Marston, St. Paul’s, Sr.; Ella Bilbo, Orange Beach, Sr.
Defensive Specialist/Libero: Ava Hodo, Orange Beach, Sr.; Emma Kate Frazier, St. Luke’s, Fr.; Kendall Dougherty, St. Paul’s, Sr.; Addy Busby, Fairhope, Jr.
For the first time ever all 14 athletic programs earned a semester G.P.A. above a 3.150. Six teams earned their highest semester G.P.A. in their respective program’s history and four others achieved their second highest semester G.P.A. in their program’s history.
This marked the 13th consecutive semester of a 3.0 or better department wide grade point average and the seventh consecutive semester that UNT improved on the previous semester’s departmental G.P.A.
“The Fall 2025 semester was an outstanding one for Mean Green Athletics in the classroom,” said UNT VP/Director of Athletics Jared Mosley. “Our student-athletes continue to demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, and their success is a direct reflection of the support and expectations we have in place. I want to thank our academic services team, led by Suzanne Dickenson, for their leadership and dedication in supporting our student-athletes and helping them reach their full potential both on the field and in the classroom.”
For the sixth consecutive semester the UNT women’s golf team led the way for the department as they earned a 3.907 fall semester G.P.A.
The Mean Green tennis team has now recorded a team G.P.A. of 3.0 or better for 28 consecutive semesters. The UNT soccer team and swim and dive team have both also maintained streaks of 20-plus consecutive semesters with a team G.P.A. above a 3.0.
Fifty-two UNT student-athletes this past fall earned a 4.0 grade point average. The Mean Green women’s track team led the way as they had 11 student-athletes named to the prestigious 2025 Fall President’s List. The tennis team had the highest percentage of student-athletes earning President’s List honors as 72% of its roster had a 4.0 G.P.A.
The UNT men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s track and field, women’s basketball, women’s cross country and women’s track and field teams all earned their highest semester G.P.A.s in program history.
Lastly, 47 UNT student-athletes earned their diplomas this past fall.
McLachlin becomes the eighth head coach in UCSD program history and will coach the Tritons in their final season as members of the Big West (2026) before the program transitions to the West Coast Conference ahead of the 2027 campaign. He joins JJ Van Niel (Arizona State), Tyler Hildebrand (Saint Mary’s College), and Amy Pauly (Orlando Valkyries) as former USC assistants under Brad Keller who have moved into head coaching positions.
“This opportunity is no surprise and has been a long time coming for Spencer,” said Keller. “UCSD is getting one of the best coaches in the game. Spencer and I have worked together in many different phases of our careers, and I know USC is in a better place with a brighter future for everything he has done here. Spencer is an innovator, a creator, and most importantly, a dreamer. Our game needs more leaders like him. I couldn’t be prouder of what he has done and for this new opportunity for him and his family.”
In his three seasons at USC, McLachlin helped lead the Women of Troy to three straight NCAA tournament appearances. The Trojans advanced to the second round in each of their three postseason berths. Most recently, McLachlin helped USC reach 25 wins and finish in a tie for third place in the Big Ten. Six Trojans received awards on all-conference teams and USC led the league in blocking (2.76 bps). The Trojans also ranked second (12th in the NCAA) in total blocks (322.5) and were second for opponent hitting percentage (.184). OH London Wijay earned AVCA All-America honorable mention.
With McLachlin on staff in 2024, USC advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year and finished 22-10 overall with a 13-7 mark in the Big Ten (tied for sixth). Setter Mia Tuaniga was named to the AVCA All-America third team. In his first season with the Women of Troy, McLachlin helped USC go 19-13 with a 12-8 mark in the Pac-12 for a fifth-place finish. That season, OH Skylar Fields was honored with AVCA All-America first-team recognition.
McLachlin is married to former USC volleyball standout opposite hitter Diane Copenhagen (2004-07), a 2004 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team selection. The McLachlins are parents to two daughters, Leila and Malia, and a son named Koa.
The 14th-ranked Trojans (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten) finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten and were awarded one of 33 at-large berths—and a hosting bid—into the 2025 NCAA tournament. USC made its fourth straight appearance in the tourney under sixth-year head coach Brad Keller (41st all-time) and moved into the second round for the fourth consecutive year with a 3-0 sweep of Princeton. The Women of Troy were eliminated from postseason play in a hard-fought five-set loss to Cal Poly in the second round.
For more information on the USC women’s volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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